K-P approves Rs6.48b 'Billion Trees Plus' project

. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Khan Afridi has approved the five-year 'Billion Trees Plus' project, allocating Rs 6.487 billion to expand forest cover and combat climate change, an official statement said on Tuesday. The project entails plantation on 7,150 hectares, restoration of degraded forests, establishment of 1,200 kanals of wild fruit orchards, and free distribution of around 44 million saplings to farms. It also includes developing over 278 hectares of departmental nurseries and integrated land restoration initiatives. In a statement, the Chief Minister said the project is not limited to tree plantation but is a comprehensive strategy for ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and pasture rehabilitation. "Modern GIS mapping, wildlife surveys, advanced monitoring systems, and carbon credit mechanisms will be used to ensure scientific management of forests and natural resources," he added.